Partially self-replicating rapid prototyping machine

[Jasper]

The technology exists actually, it's just that no one has put the pieces together in a single unit yet.  You think they build industrial robots by hand?  (Probably a little bit is, actually.)

That's what I'm trying to say, is that the technological "level" is such that we could develop a fabrication machine that has open-ended design capabilities, with multiple material and mechanical applications.

To wit, a single unit which, when supplied with raw materials and schematics, could form parts and put them together.  This could easily extend as far as installing the programming onto the products as well, in the case of computers.

Microchips made from scratch might be asking a bit much, but structural and mechanical components for sure.

[Bruno]

I think to really go anywhere with this, it's going to have to be able to handle some metalwork. If it had a tiny plasma cutter it could go a long way towards fabricating its own servo motors from sheets of silicon steel. The rotors and armatures of which are made from stacked laminations with aluminum bars cast into the slots of the rotor.

But then it would need to be able to make either tiny plasma cutters, or a machine that makes tiny plasma cutters.

[Jasper]

All it'd need is a plasma cutter and a JB Weld dispenser nozzle.

[Bruno]

An oxyhydrogen cutting torch might work just as well, be simpler to replicate, and could run off of electrolyzed water, removing the need for bottled gases.

[Jasper]

Fine idea, Jerry.

[Golden Applesauce]

I had no idea you could get enough heat out of hydrogen to build a hydrogen/oxygen cutting torch.  Hmm, I know what my next home project is going to be...

[Bruno]

It's not nearly as hot as acetylene (4500°F vs. 6000°F) I'm not sure if you can actually cut steel with it though.

For cutting, you use an excess of Oxygen, and the metal itself burns away, or at least that's how it works with oxyacetylene.

[Jasper]

That's the thing.

Be cool for the replication concept to have an air compressor that can divert to the cutter or other tasks.

[jams002]

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[Elder Iptuous]

wtf?
is that a 'bot post?

[Triple Zero]

that really looks like typical comment spam, yeah